坎坷

kǎnkě

adjective #16,353

Meanings

1 bumpy (road)
2 rough (life)
3 full of setbacks

Characters

pit; ridge; uneven

Examples

他的一生非常坎坷。

Tā de yīshēng fēicháng kǎnkě.

His life has been very rough.

虽然道路坎坷，但她从未放弃。

Suīrán dàolù kǎnkě, dàn tā cóngwèi fàngqì.

Although the road was bumpy, she never gave up.

Tips

usage

坎坷 is almost always used figuratively for a difficult life or career path. 一生坎坷 (a rough life) and 命运坎坷 (a rough fate) are extremely common collocations.

Stroke Order

坎 kǎn

坷 kě